Methods and apparatus for spraying cables



BOWERS May 15, 1962 VV////a m E. Bower:

/ a, INVENTOR.

Z/MM May 15, 1962 w. E. BowERs 3,034,923

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING CABLES Filed March 50, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w/l/la'm E. Bower;

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,034,923 METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING CABLES William E. Bowers, Houston, Tex., assignor to Schlumberger Well Surveying Corporation, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Mar. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 802,979 12 laims. (Cl. 117-66) This invention relates to methods and apparatus for spraying a corrosion inhibiting fluid on wire or cable.

It has been an appreciable problem to prevent deterioration and corrosion of cable employed, for ex ample, in lowering borehole investigating apparatus into j well bores, corrosion being an important factor in reducing the effective life of a cable. Heretofore, borehole cable has been coated with corrosion inhibiting liquid by gravity flow devices which continuously drip or flow a corrosion inhibiting fluid onto the cable as it is spooled onto a winch. Since the cable is spooled at a variety of speeds ranging anywhere, for example, from 1200 feet per hour to 20,000 feet per hour (and sometimes even higher speeds), it is obvious that a gravity application of inhibiting fluid which is adequate for one spooling speed is. very likely inadequate for other spooling speeds. For example, more inhibitor fluid is required per unit time for a high spooling speed than a low spooling speed so, that when the speed is reduced, the fluid application is likely to be excessive, or should the speed be increased, the fluid application is likely to be inadequate. Therefore, it will be readily apparent that, over a wide range of cable spooling speeds, gravity flow devices are bothunreliable and uncertain in the application of a corrosion inhibiting fluid to a cable. I

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of coating cables with a corrosion inhibiting fluid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved cable spraying apparatus for applying a corrosion inhibiting fluid in measured quantities to each layer of cable as it is spooled on a reel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved cable spraying apparatus for applying corrosion inhibiting fluid to each layer of cable on a reel in a simple, reliable and economical manner.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by applying a measured amount of coating fluid to a layer of cable during a predetermined period of time while simultaneously winding another layer of cable on a reel.

In the practice of the invention, use may be made of spraying apparatus including a spray manifold, a fluid pump and a fluid tank containing a corrosion inhibiting fluid. According to the invention, the components are operatively connected to one another so that the pump supplies the corrosion inhibiting fluid under pressure to the manifold, the manifold being adapted to spray the entire width of a cable reel so that an entire layer of cable may be uniformly coated. To prevent too much inhibitor from being sprayed on the cable in the case of very slow spooling rates, and to prevent too little inhibitor being sprayed on the cable in case of too fast spooling rates, a timing device is arranged to operate the pump for a predetermined period of time thereby applying a measured amount of fluid to a layer of cable. The timing system is actuated each time a layer of cable is applied to the reel and the predetermined period of time is less than the time required to spool a layer of cable on the reel at the highest spooling speed to be encountered. Hence, regardless of the spooling speed, a measured amount of inhibiting fluid is applied uniformly to each layer of cable on the reel.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by way of illustration and example of certain embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a logging truck and the spooling system together with cable spraying device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of swivel and switching means for the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the control and timing system of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a motorized winch unit 10 is provided with a reel or spooling drum 11 rotatively mounted on supports (not shown) and adapted to be rotated in either direction by power means (not shown) in a well-known manner. Reel 11 is adapted to spool a cable 12 in successive layers on a cylindrical drum between outer flanges 13, 14. In a practical application, the cable may extend from reel 11 through a guiding device 15- on one end of reeling arm 16 to borehole apparatus (not shown) which is adapted to be passed through a borehole. Reeling arm 16 has its other end mounted to a universal swivel low-which is attached to a wall panel 17 of unit 10. Swivel 16a is positioned above and centrally of reel 11 and permits arm 16 to pivot freely in vertical and horizontal planes. Thus, arm 16 extends outwardly over reel 11 so that the guiding device 15 may be employed to align the cable relative to the reel. To align the cable, an operator normally controls the positions of guiding device 15 so that the cable is tightly wound on the reel. An exemplary guiding device 15 may, for example, be the type disclosed in the Heinemann Patent No. 2,778,117.

A tubular spray manifold 20 is arranged parallel to the central axis of the reel 11 in a position in front of and below the reel. A plurality of spray nozzles 21 are received by the manifold 20 and are directed towards the reel to produce a spray of fluid extending across the width of the reel between the flanges. Manifold 20 is connected by a fluid conduit 22 to the output port of a motor-driven centrifugal pump 23 which has its input port connected by a fluid conduit 24 to a supply tank 25 containing a corrosion inhibiting fluid (not shown). 1

Pump 23 is electrically connected by conductors 27 to timer device 28 which serves to operate the pump 23 for a predetermined period of time, the period of time being less time than it takes to spool 'a layer of cable on the reel at the highest spooling speed to be encountered. Timer device 28, in turn, is actuated by a switching device 29, the device 29 being operable each time the guiding device 15 on reeling arm 16 aligns the cable adjacent to one of the flanges 13 or 14. Alternatively, timer device 28 may be operated manually each time a layer of cable is applied to the reel.

Swivel 1611, as shown in FIG. 2, has a cam device 30 secured to a pivot block 16b by a pin'lfic. Switching device 29 is secured to :a coupling member 16d for arm 16, the switching device having a link member and cam follower 35 which cooperate to operate switching device 29.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the details of the timer device 28 in conjunction with switching device 29 are illustrated in detail. More specifically, cam device 30 includes a split clamp comprised of a half-ring, cam memher 31 and a half-ring, supporting member 32 clamped to the vertical pin 16c. Switching device 29' is, of course, rotatively mounted on arm 16 relative to cam device 30 and to the central axis 33 of pin 16a which is in a fixed position relative to panel 17 of unit 10. Cam member 31 has projections A and B equidistantly spaced on either side of a longitudinal plane C which passes through the central *axis 331:; of shaft 33. Plane C also pass% through the midpoint between flanges 13 and 14 of reel 11 and, in the position shown, reeling arm 16 is centrally positioned between flanges 13, 14. When the guiding device 15 on reeling arm 16 is adjacent to one of the flanges on the reel, one of the projections A or B will alter the operative conditions of switching device 29 by moving follower 35 which will become more ap parent from the discussion to follow.

Switching device 29 generally includes a cam follower 35 adapted to follow cam member 31 and move relatively inwardly and outwardly therefrom to operate an electrical switch 2%. Follower 35 consists of a roller pivotally mounted on one end of a link member 36, the remaining end of link member 36 being pivotally mounted to a base member 38 by a pin connection 39. A compression spring 40 between the link member 36 and base member 38 resiliently holds follower 35 in contact with cam member 31. Switch 2921 is a single pole-double throw switch having a movable contact 41 ganged to link member 36 as shown by the dash line 42 and movable between fixed contacts 43, 44. Contacts 41, 43 are arranged to be normally closed when follower 35- rides on cam member 31 between projections A and B while contacts 41, 44 are normally closed when follower 35 rides on either projection A or B.

A source of power is provided at input terminals 45, one terminal being connected through a movable contact 45a of a switch 45b and conductor 46 to movable contact 41 of switch 2%, the other terminal being connected through a movable contact 45c of switch 45b and conductor 47 to an input conductor 27b, the conductor 27b being connected to a timer motor 46 and the pump 23. Fixed contact 43 of switch 29a is connected via conductor 54 to a movable contact 55 of a cam switch 56 which is normally in an open position prior to actuation of the timing motor 46. The open, fixed contact 57 of cam switch 56 is connected via conductor 58 to the remaining input conductor 27a which is, in turn, connected to the pump 23 and motor 46. Returning to switch 29a, fixed contact 44 is connected via conductor 62 to a movable contact 60 of another cam switch 61 which is normally closed with a fixed contact 63, the contact 63 also being connected via conductor 58 to the remaining input conductor 27a.

Timer motor 46 is provided with rotatable shaft (shown by dash line 65) and cylindrically shaped cams 66, 67 secured thereto for rotation therewith. Cam 66 has a follower 68, such as a roller, which is ganged to movable contact 55 of cam switch 56 as shown by the dash line 69 and adapted to follow on the periphery of cam 66. In the periphery of cam 66 is a V shaped notch 73 adapted to receive follower 68 in one rotative position of cam 66 to open switch 56. Cam 67 similarly has a follower 70 which is ganged to movable contact 60 of switch 61 as shown by the dash line 71 and adapted to follow on the periphery of cam 67. Cam 67 likewise has a V shaped notch 74 in its periphery adapted to receive follower 70 in one rotative position of cam 67 to open switch 61. Notch 74 on cam 67 is displaced 15 angularly ahead of notch 73 in cam 66 in the direction of rotation of the cams shown by arrow 75) so that, prior to operation of the timer motor 46, switch 61 is closed and switch 56 is open. I

It may be assumed, in order to facilitate an understanding of the operation of the apparatus, that a borehole tool is disposed in a borehole and the drum 11 is being rotated in a direction to wind the cable on the drum. Also, it may be assumed that the earns 66, 67 and followers 68, 70, respectively, are positioned so that cam switch 61 is closed and cam switch 56 is open, while the reeling arm 16 is located midway of the flanges 13, 14.

If reeling arm 16 now moves in a clockwise direction, as seen from above the reel, for example, towards flange 13, cam projection B on cam member 31 will ultimately (when guiding device 15 is near flange 13) engage and move follower 35 outwardly thereby changing the operative condition of switch 29a (FIG. 2). More specifically, movable contact 41 opens from fixed contact 43 and thereafter closes with fixed contact 44 thereby completing an electrical path to timer motor 46 via closed calm switch 61 and conductors 58 and 27a. Projection B is arranged to operate switching device 29a when the layer of cable being applied to the winch lacks approximately three turns before reaching a flange thereby perrnitting switching device 29a to "be held in one operative condition for the three turns to reach the flange and the first three turns of a new layer of cable. Timer motor 46, when actuated, rotates cam shaft 65 while pump 23 supplies inhibitor fluid to the layer of cable on the reel via the manifold and nozzles 21.

Timer motor 46 rotates earns 66, 67 in the direction which causes follower 68 on cam 66 to ride out of V notch 73 to close cam switch 56. The time required to close cam switch 56 by cam 66 is less than the time that the switching device 29a is held in the one operative condition so that when follower 35 rides off projection B, switch 56 permits continued operation of the timer motor 46. Hence, cam switch 61 is initially in the starting circuit of timer motor 46 while cam switch 56 subsequently in the holding circuit which permits the motor 46 to continue operation after contacts 41, 44 of switch 29a have been opened. At slightly less than one revolution of cam 67, the cam switch 61 will briefly be opened and closed by notch 74 and follower 70 and, at one full revolution of cam 66, the notch 73 in cam 66 will receive follower 68 to open cam switch 56 thereby disconnecting the electrical path to the timer motor 46 and to the pump 23. At this time, the timing cycle is complete and cam switches 56 and 61 are in their original positions so that when the guiding member 15 on reeling arm 16 nears the other flange, the switching device 29:: will again actuate the timer device 28 and pump 23 for another predetermined cycle of operation.

Should the spooling operation be stopped while follower 35 is positioned on projection B, switch 61 being closed permits continued operation of the timer motor 46, the contacts 41, 44 being closed. At slightly less than one revolution of cam 67 the notch 74 will receive follower 70 opening switch 61 and thereby disconnecting the electrical path to the timer motor 46. Hence, regardless of the position of the reeling arm the pump will operate only for a short duration of time. In the above situation, when follower 35 subsequently rides olf projection B after the spooling operation has been resumed, the movable contact 41 will close with fixed contact 43 and since cam switch 56 is closed the timer motor 46 and pump 23 will operate a short time until the follower 68 is received by the notch 73 on the cam 66 thereby opening switch 56 and stopping the pump. Simultaneously with this movement switch 61 is being closed and thus prepared for the subsequent cycle of operation.

To operate the timer device 28 manually, a manually operated switch 29b having fixed contacts 76, 77 connected to switches 56 and 61, respectively, and a movable contact 78 connected to a contact 79 of switch 45b bypass the switch 2%. In particular, if switch 45b is operated, one terminal of the source of power 45 may be connected via contact 79, to movable contact 78 of switch 78 of switch 2% while the other terminal of the power source 45 is connected via conductor 47 to conductor 27b. The movable contact 78 of switch 29b is biased by a spring 80 into a normally closed position with contact 76. A push button 81 is provided so that contacts 78, 77 may be manually closed to actuate the timer motor 46 for a period of operation.

To further illustrate the invention, considerations involved in the determination of the predetermined time period of operation will be set forth together with suitable illustrations of the present invention. For example, with a reel having a drum diameter of 7A inches approximately 90 turns of .46 inch diameter cable may be compressed and contained between flanges spaced 40 inches from one another. Since each turn cable on the winch is equal to 6.4 feet, a layer across the width of the Winch contains 576 feet of cable. Therefore, at a spooling rate of 1200 feet per hour, it will take 1730 seconds to spool a layer of cable while, at a rate of 20,000 feet per hour, it will take 105 seconds to spool a layer of cable. After a number of layers have been received by the winch, say Where the diameter of the combined cable layers and winch is 48 inches, each turn of cable on the winch will be equal to 12.8 feet so that a layer across the width of the winch contains 1152 feet of cable. Therefore, at a rate of 1200 feet per hour, it will take 3460 seconds to spool a layer of cable while, at a rate of 20,000 feet per hour, it will take 210 seconds to spool a layer of cable. From the foregoing exemplary calculations it will be readily apparent that the time of fluid application should be accomplished during some time period which is less than 105 seconds.

As a practical example of a suitable time period, 30 seconds has been found adequate, the fluid being sprayed on the cable to apply two-tenths of a gallon in the time period, the pump pressure being 4 p.s.i.g. The corrosion inhibiting fluid may be, for example, one pound of trisodium phosphate and one pound of sodium dichromate dissolved in 5 gallons of fresh water.

'It should be readily apparent from the foregoing that the cable may be spooled onto the reel in layers being guided in successive turns by manually controlled guiding means wherein a measured amount of coating fluid may be applied to each layer of cable as applied onto the reel. Moreover, it should be apparent that, regardless of the spooling, a uniform measured amount of coating fluid is applied in a predetermined period of time and that while particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and therefore the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of applying a coating fluid to a well logging cable which is spooled on a reel comprising the steps of: winding successive layers of a single cable in successive layers on a reel; applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of cable during a predetermined period of time while simultaneously winding the succeeding layer of cable on the reel, said predetermined period of time being less than the time required to wind an entire layer of cable on the reel.

2. A method of preserving a Well logging cable which is spooled on a reel comprising the steps of level winding a single cable across a reel in first one direction and then another direction to develop successive layers of spooled cable, applying a spray of coating substantially uniformly across the width of each layer during a time interval beginning substantially when said cable is spooled on an end lay of the underlying layer and terminating prior to commencement of the succeeding layer.

3. -A method of preserving a well logging cable which is spooled on a reel comprising the steps of: level winding a single cable across a reel in first one direction and then another direction to develop successive layers of spooled calble, applying a spray of coating substantially uniformly across the width of each layer during a fixed time interval beginning substantially when said cable is spooled on an end lay of the underlying layer and terminating prior to commencement of the succeeding layer.

4. A method of coating successive layers of a single well logging cable as it is spooled on a reel comprising the steps of: winding a single well logging cable in successive layers on a reel; projecting a measured amount of a coating fluid onto each layer of the cable from one side of the reel during'the winding for a time equal to at least one revolution of the reel but not greater than the time required to wind an entire layer of cable.

5. Apparatus for applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of a cable Wound on a reel, independently of variations in the speed of said reel, comprising: a support; a reel rotatively mounted on said support; a cable adapted to be spooled in layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for applying a coating fluid on each layer of cable spooled on said reel; and means responsive to the positioning of said cable at a predetermined point on said reel for operating said applying means for a predetermined period of time for each layer of cable spooled on said reel, said predetermined period of time being less than the time required to spool one layer of cable.

6. Apparatus for applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of a cable wound on a reel, independently of variations in the speed of said reel, comprising: a support; a reel rotatively mounted on said support; a cable adapted to be spooled in layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for guiding said cable in relation to said reel for Winding said cable into successive layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for applying a coating fluid to each layer of cable spooled on said reel; and means responsive to a given position of said guiding means relative to said reel for operating said applying means for a predetermined period of time for each layer of cable spooled on said reel, said predetermined period of time being less than the time required to spool one layer of cable.

7. Apparatus for applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of a cable wound on a reel, independently of variations in the speed of said reel, comprising: a support; a reel rotatively mounted on said support; a cable adapted to be spooled in layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for guiding said cable in relation to said reel for winding said cable into successive layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for applying a coating fluid to each layer of cable spooled on said reel; timer means for operating said applying means for a predetermined period of time for each layer of cable spooled on said reel, said predetermined period of time being less than the time required to spool one layer of cable; and sensing means responsive toa position of said guiding means near an end portion of said reel for actuating said timer means.

8. Apparatus for applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of a cable wound on a reel, independently of variations in the speed of said reel, comprising: a support; a reel rotatively mounted on said support; a cable adapted to be spooled in layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for applying a coating fluid to each layer of cable spooled on said reel; timer means for operating said applying means for a predetermined period of time for each layer of cable spooled on said reel, said predetermined period of time being less than the time required to spool one layer of cable; and sensing means controlled by a position of said cable in its approach to said reel to actuate said timer means for each layer of cable spooled on said reel.

9. Apparatus for applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of a cable wound on a reel, independently of variations in the speed of said reel, comprising: a support; a reel rotatively mounted on said support; a cable adapted to be spooled in layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for guiding said cable in relation to said reel for winding said cable into successi-ve layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for applying a coating fluid to ,each layer of cable spooled on said reel; timer means including a timer driving motor and at least one cam-actuated switch coupled to said timer motor; and sensing means actuatable once at a given position of said guiding means relative to said reel for each layer of cable wound on said reel to initiate operation of said timer motor and said applying means, said earn-actuated switch operable after a predetermined period of time to terminate operation of said applying means, said predetermined period of time being less than the time required to spool one layer of cable.

10. Apparatus for applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of a cable Wound on a reel,

independently of variations in the speed of said reel, comprising: a support; a reel rotatively mounted on said support; a cable adapted to be spooled in layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for guiding said cable in relation to said reel for winding said cable into successive layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for applying a coating fluid to each layer of cable spooled on said reel; timer means including a timer driving motor and two cam-actuated switches coupled to said timer motor; and sensing means actuatable once at a given position of said guiding means relative to said reel for each layer of cable wound on said reel to initiate operation of said timer motor and said applying means, said camactuated switches cooperable after a predetermined period of time to terminate operation of said applying means, said predetermined period of time being less than the time required to spool one layer of cable.

11. Apparatus for applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of a cable wound on a reel, inde pendently of variations in the speed of said reel, comprising: a support; a reel rotatively mounted on said support; a cable adapted to be spooled in layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for guiding said cable in relation to said reel for winding said cable into successive layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for applying a coating fluid across the width of each layer of cable spooled on said reel; switch means actuated in response to positions of said guiding means near the ends of said reel; and timer means, actuated in response to said switch means, for operating said applying means during a predetermined period of time for each layer of cable spooled on said reel, said predetermined period of time being less than the times required to spool one layer of cable, and said timer means. including means for interrupting the operation cycle of said applying means whenever said switch means remains in an actuated condition for a period of time longer than said predetermined period of time and continuing said operation cycle whenever said switch means is returned to a de-actuated condition.

'12. Apparatus for applying a measured amount of coating fluid to each layer of a cable wound on a reel, independently of variations in the speed of said reel, comprising: a support, a reel rotatively mounted on said support; a cable adapted to be spooled in layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; means for guiding said cable in relation to said reel for winding said cable into successive layers upon said reel as said reel is rotated; electricallyoperated means for applying a coating fluid across the width of each layer of cable spooled on said reel; timer means for operating said applying means during a predetermined period of time for each layer of cable spooled on said reel, said predetermined period of time being less than the time required to spool one layer of cable, and said timer means including a first normally-open electrical switch, a second normally-closed electrical switch, a cam shaft and first and second cams attached thereto for respectively operating said first and second switches, and a timer motor for rotating said cam shaft and cams, said first switch being closed by said first cam at a period of time shortly following the starting of said timer motor and said second switch being opened by said second cam at a period of time just prior to the re-opening of said first switch; a source of electrical energy; and a third switch having first and second fixed contacts coupled respectively to said first and second switches and a movable contact coupled to said source of electrical energy, said movable contact being normally closed with said first contact when said guiding means is centrally disposed relative to said reel and said movable contact being normally closed with said second contact when said guiding means is adjacent one of the ends of said reel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,425,214 Voelker et al. Aug. 5, 1947 2,811,130 Friderici Oct. 29, 1957 2,845,229 Bliss July 29, 1958 

1. A METHOD OF APPLYING A COATING FLUID TO A WELL LOGGING CABLE WHICH IS SPOOLED ON A REEL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: WINDING SUCCESSIVE LAYERS OF A SINGLE CABLE IN SUCCESSIVE LAYERS ON A REEL; APPLYING A MEASURED AMOUNT OF COATING FLUID TO EACH LAYER OF CABLE DURING A PREDETER- 